Easel



M. E. A. MERRITT April 3, 1928.

EASEL Filed Dec. 7, 1925 INVENTOR.

lWA/PY [I A. MERRITT $9;

A TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

MARY IE.v A. MERRITT, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

EASEL.

I Application filed December 7, 1925. Serial No. 73,693;

This invention relates more specifically to an easel construction adapted for'arti sts use. 7

An important object of the invention is to provide aneasel construction that may be readily collapsed in a fiat compact form when not in use for) storage purposes.

Another object is to provide an easel'at which two artists may work at thesame time without interfering with ea'ch'other.

Another object is to provide a construction that may be readily assembled for use, and in which the color receptacle supporting shelves are utilize'dto prevent an accidental collapse of'the easel when in use.

A further object is to provide an easel in which a plurality of'sheets' of drawing paper or color receiving material may be conveniently disposed and clamped to the easel working surfaces, the top or outer sheet being readily removable without disturbing the remainder.

A still further object is to provide aneasel construction adapted to removably secure in a convenient position a plurality of liquid color receptacles, and to provide means for receiving-any drippings ofcolor from the drawing paper during the formation of the picture or design thereon.

Further objects and advantages willLa-ppear from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: .7

Fi 1 is a perspective view ofan easel constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the easel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the material clamping means taken on line 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the color receptacle supporting shelf, and the drip trough.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an easel with a single drawing board.

In an embodiment of the present invention and referring now more particularly to the double form of easel shown in Fig. 1, 5 and 6 indicate two complemental frame members, consisting of two pairs of vertically disposed supportin legs 7 8, 9 and 10, the pairs being hinged together at the top thereof in order that the frame members may be disposed at an inclination to each other when the easel is in an operative position.

Secured tothe front fa'cesof each. pair of the frame members, and extending downwardly and terminating midway the length" of the legs are drawing boards'l2, 12, rigidly fastened thereto for holdingthedrawing material, such as'paper, inconvenient posi.- tlOIl for the-artist.

In order to space the pair of hinged frames the proper distanceapart when it"is desired to use the easel,.each* leg is'provide d f witlr a longitudinally extending slot 1 3,". adapted to'receive cross-braces 14, the ends" of the braces extending beyond the-frontfaces. of the leg members, and each provided at either end with a longitudinally extending slot 15 for receiving the ends of shelves 16 adapted to support in convenient'position the liquid color receptacles used by the artist in the creation of pictures.

In order to hold the frames against acci-z dental collapse, and also to ir'npartstability to the entire easel structure, wedge pins 17 are insertedin the oppositely disposed ends of each pair of slots'15, the pins forcingthe legs into clamped engagement with the rear. longitudinally extending edges of the shelves" 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 40f the draw ings.

Shelves 16 are each provided with a plu-v rality of 'alined openings 20 in which are mounted the tapered receptacles 21, such as ordinary jelly glasses, for holding the cold water paint solutions of different colors-used by the artistsin their work;

Each drawing board at its upper horizontal edge is provided with a clamping mechanism, adapted to hold in a fixed position on said boards a plurality of sheets 22 of drawing, or other material used by artists in the production of pictures or designs, each clamping mechanism preferably consisting of a pair of threaded studs 23, secured to the drawing boards in any suitable manner, the sheets of drawing material 22 being suspended therefrom (see Fig. In order to prevent the sheets from becoming accidentally detached from the studs a clamping board 25 is disposed on the outer ends of each pair of studs, wing nuts 26 forcing the boards into clamping relation with the sheets of drawing material.

These easelshave been especially designed for use in connection. with kindergarten schools, and aschildren in making colored drawings usually employ an excess of liquid color some provision must be made for controlling the drips falling from the sheets of drawing material, and to this end the lower horizontally disposed edge of each drawing board is provided with a trough 27 for re ceiving the same.

In Fig. 5 a modified form of easel construction is shown that is substantially the same as the form the exception that one pair ofthe supporting legs is not provided with the drawing board, but in lieu of the same it is provided with across brace 28 located midway the length of the legs to rigidly secure the same together. The cross braces 29 are similar in form to the cross braces 14 used in the first form with the exception that one end only is provided with a slot 15 for receiving the ends of the color receptacle supporting shelves 16, as in the first form, their oppositeends being provided with apertures for the reception of wedge pins 30.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a collapsible easel construction at which two children may work at the same time without interference. Further the easel may be quicklyassembled when it is desired to use the same, and as quickly taken apart for storage. The shelves for holding the paint receptacles are so formed and connected to the cross brapes as to lock the supporting legs in position when the easel is in an operative position. Also as the drawing boards are provided with a plurality of sheets of material utilized in painting, successive sheets may be readily detached from the pile without manipulating the clamp construction. The glass shelves 0r rackssecurely hold the color receptacles in position and as a result they are not easily upset or spilled by an accidental movement 01": the easel.

By providing drip trays at the base of the heretofore described, with upper edge of the drawing boards, side braces detachably engaging the supporting bars, receptacle holding shelves detachably secured to the ends of the side braces for movement when assembled, and-horizontally.

extending drip troughs secured to the lower edges of the 'dra wing boards adapted to receive excess liquid color that may drip from the material disposed on the drawing boards.

2. An easel construction comprising pairs of supporting bars hingedly secured together at the top thereof, drawing boards secured to the outer :tace of each pair of supporting bars at the upper ends thereof, a drawing material clamping mechanism secured tothe upper edge of the drawing boards, side braces having slotted ends detachably engaging the supporting bars, transversely disdisposed receptacle holding shelves passing through the slotted ends of the side braces for maintaining the supporting bars against movement when assembled, and horizontally extending drip troughs secured to the lower edges of the drawing boardsadapted to receive excess liquid color that may drip from the material disposed on the drawing boards. In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21 day or November, 1925.

MARY E. A. MERRITT.

maintaining the supportingbars against 

